In Remembrance

Jimmy Dale Gulley

Jimmy Dale Gulley, 87, of De Soto, Kansas joined his Lord and Savior on Wednesday, November 9. He passed peacefully at the KC Hospice House after several days in the hospital.

Born in Hamilton, Missouri on April 1, 1935 to Earnest and Lola B. Gulley. He trusted in Christ and was baptized at age 10 at the Oakland Park Baptist Church in Kansas City, Kansas. He attended school in Richmond, Missouri until second grade. Then moving to Kansas City, Kansas, he continued his schooling and graduated from Wyandotte High School in 1954.

Jim was a proud veteran of the United States Navy, serving from 1956-1958 aboard the USS Yorktown with his brother Bobby. They traveled all over the Orient and Pacific Islands until their tour ended. After returning from the Navy, Jim married M. Maye Shoemake of Kansas City, Kansas. They were married on July 14, 1962 at the Oakland Park Baptist Church. Together they owned numerous businesses and built the home they still reside in today. In July of 2022, they celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary with their immediate family.

Jim worked as a builder remodeling and building homes. In 1978, Jim and his brother Larry, opened the Gulley’s Carpet & Appliance Store in De Soto, Kansas. They began their business on the main street at 33085 West 83rd Street, (now the home of Reach Church). In 1993, they moved the business to 34105 Commerce Drive.

Jim had a passion for cars and was especially drawn to cars made by the Ford Motor Company. He owned a number of classic Fords over the years, but was most known for his love of the Edsel, owning at one point over 25. Jim helped found the Edsel Owners Club as a Charter member and Central Zone Governor. He collected and drove his Edsels to many annual meets, including the first National Edsel Owners Meet in Indianapolis, in 1969. With Maye and Jamey, they traveled all over the country for many years showing cars. He also organized the Heart of America Chapter that met monthly for over 25 years.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents, Earnest and Lola Gulley; brothers Joseph, Earnest, Jr., Bobby, Sr., and Danny, Sr.; and sisters Betty Parr, Peggy Holwick, and Kathy Bohlken. He is survived by his wife, Maye, daughter Jamey Gulley Seaba (Rodney), granddaughters Kassidy Alexander (Miles) and Kasey Seaba; great-grandsons Grayson Dale Alexander and Gulley Seaba Alexander; brother Larry Gulley, Sr.; sisters Beulah Miller and Judy Frese; and many nieces and nephews. Family and friends will all greatly miss him.

Visitation and funeral was held on Tuesday, November 15, 2022, at 10:30 at Reach Church in De Soto. Burial followed at De Soto Cemetery, De Soto, Kansas.

–obituary originally posted on Cedar Crest Memorial Chapel website,

Shown next door to McDonald’s. “We had tremendous growth due to the new business location,” Jim Gulley shared in his “My Story” memoirs. “We employed many family members over the years. After more than 60 years of employment, I decided to retire. I was 77 years old. I could not have had a better partner than Larry and we enjoyed many, many years... good times that are too many to remember or too difficult to write about.”

James David “Beef” Christenberry

Dave Christenberry passed away on Monday, January 16, 2023, diagnosed with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis and bone cancer. David was born in Anchorage, Alaska on April 6, 1952, as his father was stationed at the Elmendorf Air Force Base. He then lived in New Jersey, England, Arizona and Jacksonville, Arkansas. He joined the Navy and rotated being on a nuclear submarine for six years. His love of all things military facilitated him joining the National Guard as a tanker. He was an EMT for Johnson County Med-Act, retiring shortly before turning 60.

His passion was buying and selling military surplus across the country, where he met longtime friends Peter and Eva Wilkin. “The outpouring of love we felt by so many people while in hospice made a big difference. The kids and I appreciate you more than you know,” thanked Jani Christenberry. “He suffered much, but was optimistic until the end and was sure he would return home, which he did, just not to his physical address.”

Dave was preceded in death by his parents, Bill and Norma Christenberry, his beloved sister, Janet and brother-in-law, Joe, and two stepdaughters from his first marriage. He is survived by his wife Jani, daughter, Py, son, Kaleb (Amy) and his grandson Leo. He has a nephew, Joel (Allison) and a niece, Amanda (Phil). A Celebration of Life was held on Sunday, February 5, 2023 at The Barn at Kill Creek Farm in De Soto.

Willetta Mae Lawhead v Sept. 5, 1950–Nov. 9, 2022

Glenn R. Briggs v April 19, 1944–January 3, 2023

Betty Nevius v August 10, 1928–January 15, 2023

Mary Manly v February 7, 1926–January 15, 2023

–provided by the De Soto Historical Society

Jim “was obsessed” with Edsels. In 1969 he heard about a gathering of Edsel owners in Indianapolis, Indiana, and “packed up the family in our Spring Green Citation...and headed to Indiana.” He became the Edsel Owners Club Charter Member that year and organized the Heart of America (HOA) Chapter in 1970. The family saw most of the USA because of the Edsel meets.

Shown above left: In 1978, an edselcade of 15 cars traveling to an Edsel Owners Club meet in Nashville had the opportunity to meet Colonel Sanders. One of its members had delivered groceries for the Colonel when he first started his restaurants. After calling the KFC headquarters in Kentucky, they were invited to visit with the Colonel. Shown above right: Maye’s 1959 Mist Green Edsel provided much room for the entire family on their travels with the caravan of Edsels.

2023 Trash, Recycling & Brush Calendar Clip and mount on cardboard or foam board to display on your fridge for an easy reference throughout the year. Courtesy of the City of De Soto / Honey Creek Disposal.